Durians and chilli crabs: Singapore fashion designer celebrates city’s cuisine with food motifs for capsule collection
- Singaporean fashion label Reckless Ericka is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year with collections based on the nation’s favourite thing: food
- Looks created by its head designer and co-founder, Afton Chen, include durian-print dresses and a collection featuring chilli crab motifs
In Singapore, foods such as chilli crab and durian are an indelible part of the local culture. So how better for a Singapore-based fashion label to mark its 10th anniversary than by plastering these foods over dresses, skirts and hoodies?
“It is our first time creating our own digital print, so I wanted something that can resonate with me as a Singaporean and a designer. What can be more iconic than food?” says Afton Chen, head designer and co-founder of label Reckless Ericka.
“I chose to start with the chilli crab as a challenge to myself,” says Chen. “I did not want to make the print too souvenir-looking, so I thought of using an outline of the crab in the design and to juxtapose it with Peranakan tiles.” (Peranakan culture is a hybrid of southern Chinese and European influences prevalent in Singapore and Malaysia.)
The three designs in the “Chilli Crab” range are featured in a capsule collection of the label’s signature looks, including full circle skirts and retro feminine midi dresses. The result is stylish and far from gimmicky.
